Tale of message inside Lincoln’s watch proves true

FOR nearly 150 years, a story has circulated about a hidden Civil War message engraved inside Abraham Lincoln’s pocket watch.

Museum curators have confirmed it was true. A watchmaker used tiny tools to pry open the antique watch at the National Museum of American History, and a descendant of the engraver read aloud the message.

“Jonathan Dillon April 13 — 1861,” part of the inscription reads. “Fort Sumpter (sic) was attacked by the rebels on the above date.” Another part reads: “Thank God we have a government.”

A magnifying glass was required to read the words, etched in tiny handwriting and filling the space between tiny screws and gears jutting through a metal plate underneath the watch face.

Dillon had Lincoln’s watch in his hands when he heard the first shots of the Civil War had been fired in South Carolina. The Irish immigrant’s great-great-grandson, Doug Stiles, heard the tale of the engraving from his great-uncle decades ago.

A few months ago he used Google for research purposes and last month passed the information to Smithsonian curators.

The watch went back on display at the museum yesterday, with a new label to tell Dillon’s story and a photo of the inscription.